Pellet dispensers

ABSTRACT

A pellet dispenser has an egg-shaped housing containing a generally oval diaphragm ( 24 ) separating an upper pellet reservoir portion ( 12 ) from a lower discharge portion ( 14 ) having a discharge opening ( 8 ). Lateral pressure can be applied to the diaphragm ( 24 ) by a button ( 20 ) in the side of the housing to cause the diaphragm ( 24 ) to bow. The diaphragm ( 24 ) has a central aperture ( 32 ) and carries on opposite sides of the aperture a pair of half cylindrical arms ( 4, 36 ) defining a channel ( 38 ) from the aperture ( 32 ) to the opening ( 8 ). A pair of mating doors ( 10 ) closing the opening ( 8 ) are carried at the distal ends of the arms ( 34, 36 ). When the diaphragm ( 24 ) is squeezed the distal ends of the arms ( 34, 36 ) separate to open the doors ( 10 ). A pair of rods ( 42 ) are attached to the diaphragm ( 24 ) only at their opposite ends. The intermediate portions of the rods ( 42 ), which normally lie adjacent opposite sides of the apertures, bow inwardly when the diaphragm ( 24 ) is squeezed, towards each other, to obstruct the passage of pellets from the reservoir through the aperture ( 32 ).

[0001] The present invention relates to pellet dispensers.

[0002] Disposable pellet dispensers are known which comprise a housing defining a reservoir containing a plurality of pellets such as peppermint spheres or sugar substitute tablets. The housing is provided with an opening on the underside which is closed by spring-loaded gate or door. By operating a button or lever, the gate or door can be opened to release one or more pellets through the opening to fall into a waiting receptacle or cupped hand lying below the opening. Mechanisms may be provided to ensure the release of a predetermined number (eg one) of pellets each time the door is opened.

[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved pellet dispenser.

[0004] According to the present invention there is provided a pellet dispenser comprising a reservoir for storing pellets, an opening through which pellets can be discharged, a channel leading from the reservoir to the opening and a mechanism for controlling the discharge of pellets from the reservoir via the channel and through the opening in discrete batches of at least one pellet, the mechanism comprising a resilient and flexible laminar member, operation means for flexing the laminar member to vary its arcuate profile, arm means mounted at a discrete location on the laminar member and carrying a shutter so positioned as to move into and out of a position in which it can obstruct the passage of pellets from the channel through the opening in response to a change in arcuate profile of the laminar member, and obstruction means mounted at another discrete location on the laminar members so positioned as to move into and out of a position in which it can obstruct the passage of pellets from the reservoir to the channel in response to a change in arcuate profile of the laminar member, the obstruction means not obstructing the passage of pellets when the shutter means obstructs the passage of pellets and vice versa.

[0005] According to the present invention there is further provided a pellet dispenser comprising a housing containing a flexible resilient laminar member separating the housing into first and second compartments, the first compartment defining a reservoir for storing pellets there, second compartment having a discharge opening for discharging pellets, the laminar member defining an aperture through which pellets can pass from the first to the second compartments, and being free to flex and change its arcuate profile in response to lateral pressure, a pair of arms mounted on the laminar member on opposite sides of the aperture to extend towards the opening, each arm carrying a door, the doors closing the opening when the laminar member adopts a first arcuate profile and moving away from the opening when the laminar member adopts a second arcuate profile, an obstruction mounted on the laminar member and movable between a first position in which it obstructs the passage of pellets through the aperture from one compartment to the other when the laminar member adopts the second arcuate profile and a second position in which it does not obstruct the passage of pellets from the first to the second compartment through the opening when the laminar member adopts the first arcuate profile.

[0006] According to the present invention there is further provided a pellet dispenser comprising a reservoir for storing pellets, an opening through which pellets can be discharged, a channel leading from the reservoir to the opening and a mechanism for controlling the discharge of pellets from the reservoir via the channel and through the opening in discrete batches of at least one pellet, the mechanism comprising a two part laminar member in which the two parts are hingedly interconnected, operation means for acting on the laminar member to vary the angular relationship between the two parts, arm means mounted at a discrete location on the laminar member and carrying a shutter so positioned as to move into and out of a position in which it can obstruct the passage of pellets from the channel through the opening in response to a change angular relationship between the two parts of the laminar member, and obstruction means mounted at another discrete location on the laminar member so positioned as to move into and out of a position in which it can obstruct the passage of pellets from the reservoir to the channel in response to a change in the angular relationship between the two parts of the laminar member, the obstruction means not obstructing the passage of pellets when the shutter means obstructs the passage of pellets and vice versa.

[0007] Pellet dispensers embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a first embodiment of the dispenser;

[0009]FIG. 2 is an under plan view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the lower portion of the dispenser of FIG. 1 with the discharge gates open;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a side view of the lower portion of FIG. 4;

[0013] FIGS. 6 to 8 are longitudinal sections through the lower portion of the dispenser in different operative states;

[0014]FIGS. 9 and 10 are plan views of the lower portion of the dispenser in a non-discharging and discharging state respectively; and

[0015]FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of the dispenser.

[0016] The dispenser shown in FIG. 1 is a disposable dispenser 2 for storing generally spherical confectionery pellets and dispensing them in discrete batches (eg two) through a gated opening in the underside.

[0017] The dispenser 2 has a generally egg-shaped housing 4 slightly flattened in a direction at right angles to its major axis (see FIG. 2) so as to be of generally oval cross-section. The upper axial end 6 of the housing is flattened to define a planar surface so that when the housing is inverted, it can rest stably on a horizontal flat support surface. The opposite axial end of the housing 4 defines a generally circular opening 8 access from which is controlled by a pair of doors 10. The housing consists of two generally similar sized portions 12 and 14 which can be separated or secured together by a snap lock action. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the rim on the underside of the portion 12 is provided with an interrupted downwardly projecting flange 16 sized to fit within the open upper end of the portion 14. The flange 16 has a radially outwardly projecting rib 18 which is arranged to engage and snap fit into a circumferentially extending groove (not shown) located in the inner wall, just below the rim, of the portion 14.

[0018] The upper portion 12 defines a storage chamber for storing the pellets to be dispensed. The lower portion houses a dispensing mechanism which controls the number of pellets dispensed on each operation as well as the opening and closing of the doors 10.

[0019] An actuation button 20 for initiating the dispensing operation is located in the side wall of the lower portion 14.

[0020]FIGS. 4 and 5 shows respectively a front elevation and a side elevation of the lower portion 14 of the housing 4 after the button 20 has been pressed to open the doors 10 and release a pair of pellets 22.

[0021] The operation of the dispensing control mechanism can be seen more clearly from FIGS. 6 to 8 which illustrate the mechanism in different states of operation.

[0022] The normal non-dispensing state is shown in FIG. 6. As can be seen, the mechanism includes a generally oval flexible but resilient plastics disc or diaphragm 24. The rim of the disc 24 is located in a generally circumferentially extending arcuate groove 26 in the inner surface of the wall of the lower housing portion 14. The wall is selectively thickened at this point to define the groove 26. The plane of the groove 26 is intersects a circular opening 28 in the wall on the opposite side of the lower housing portion 14. The opening 28 accommodates the button 20 which is integral with the housing portion 14 over a short or arcuate section spaced from the plane of the groove 26 to form a living hinge 30. The inner surface of the button 20 is provided with a rib 31 generally aligned with the groove 26 to engage the disc 24 to assist in holding it captive between the hinge 30 and the rib 31 within the lower housing portion 14.

[0023] The disc 24 has a central opening 32 sized to just comfortably allow the passage of pellets 22 therethrough, into a cylindrical channel 38 defined by a pair of mating half cylindrical members 34, 36. The opening 32 and the channel 38 are preferably coaxial and have the same diameter.

[0024] The upper semicircular rim of each half cylindrical member 34 and 36 is provided with a cut-out 40 at each end so leave a short central arc portion which is attached to and integral with the underside of the disc 24. The arc portions preferably subtend an angle of 90° or less.

[0025] The lower end of each cylindrical members 34, 36 carries a respective, partially dome shaped, door 10. In the closed position shown in FIG. 6, the doors 10 define a generally dome shaped closure for the opening 8 in the housing with the rim of the dome being arranged in axially extending abutting relationship with the rim of the opening 8. Instead, the lower ends of the cylindrical members 34 and 36 may carry a generally planar door lying abutting relationship with the rim of the opening 8.

[0026] The disc 24 also supports a pair of spaced generally parallel extending bars 42 whose function and operation will be described in more detail later on.

[0027] In operation, when the button 20 is pressed, it will cause the disc 24 to dish or bow into the shape of an arc. The disc 24 may be pre-disposed to bow slightly in the direction of the opening 8 so that the disc 24 will always bow in the same direction when squeezed by the button 20.

[0028] As the disc 24 becomes progressively more bowed, the locations on the disc 24 at which the two half cylindrical members 34 and 38 are attached will have two components of motion, one directly axially downwards and the other radially outwards. As a consequence, as disc 24 bows, the rim of the dome defined by the doors 10 will become axially spaced from the rim of the opening 8 and, at the same time, the distal ends of the two half cylindrical members 34, 36 will become radially separated. This in turn causes the two doors 10 progressively to separate until the gap between the doors 10 approaches the diameter of the opening 32. This will then allow the free flow of pellets 22 through the opening 8.

[0029] The pair of generally parallel bars 42, however, act to control the flow as will now be described. The bars 42 are positioned over the opening 32 to extend at right angles to the direction in which the button 20 is operated. In their normal position, before the button 20 is operated, their separation in the area of the opening 32 is just slightly greater than the diameter of the pellets so that the pellets can fall through the opening 32 to fill the channel 38. The extent to which the channel 38 can be filled can be adjusted by mounting radially inwardly directed projections (not shown) on one or both half cylindrical portions 34 and 36 to limit the travel of the pellets down the channel when the two half cylindrical portions are in mating engagement.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 9, the bars 40, which are of flexible and resilient material are secured to the disc only at their opposite and portions, their central portions remaining free. When the disc 24 is in a flat or planar state the central portions of the bars are biased or bowed very slightly towards each other.

[0031] In operation when the button 20 is pressed, the disc 24 will dish or bow to bring the opposite edges of each bar 40 closer together. Each bar will accordingly bow inwardly to such an extent that the spacing between the bars over the opening is reduced to obstruct any further pellets from gaining entry to the opening. Meanwhile, progressive dishing of the disc 24 will cause the doors 10 to open wide and discharge only those pellets contained in the channel 38.

[0032] Release of the button 20 will allow the disc to resile 224 and thus close the doors 10. At the same time, the central portions of the bars move part to again allow the next charge of pellets to enter the channel 38. The operation can then be repeated until the dispenser is empty upon which it can be merely discarded or refilled and reused as required.

[0033] Many others mechanisms which are responsive to the flexure of the disc 24 and can be used to control the access of pellets to the opening 32.

[0034] In a modification, the button 20 may be hingedly connected to the upper portion or some other component. In yet a further modification, two buttons 20 may be provided one on each of the two opposite sides of the disc 24 mounted on respective openings 28 on the wall on opposite sides of the upper or lower housing portion.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, parts similar to those in FIGS. 1 to 10 are similarly referenced but with the suffix A.

[0036] As shown instead of the bars 42, a pair of flexible resilient arms 50 are mounted on diagonally opposite sides of the opening 32A on the underside of the disc 24A. The arms 50 extend at an angle of substantially 45° to the disc 24A when at rest towards each other. The arms 50 project into the channel 38A through the cut-outs 40A. With the disc 24A in its lower, at rest, position the spacing between the distal ends of the two arms 50 is sufficient to admit the pellets there past. A pair of elongate stops 52 project generally axially inwardly from the wall of housing portion 14A immediately adjacent the opening 8A towards and into engagement with a respective arm 50.

[0037] In operation, when the button 20A is operated and the disc 24A caused to dish, the arms 50 will move towards the opening 8A and will also tend to move apart. However, the cam action provided by the stops 52 will actually cause the arms 50 to move towards each other to such an extent as to restrict the passage of further pellets there past until the disc 24A has resiled and the doors 10A have closed.

[0038] The axis of the dispenser, as referred to herein, is that axis which is coaxial with the cylindrical channel 38 and passes through the centres of the opening 32 and the disc 24.

[0039] In a modification, the resilient and laminar members can be replaced by a stiff planar member which has a diametrically extending hinge interconnecting its two halves. The planar member has a central opening and carries the mating half cylindrical member as well as the parallel bars of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 10. Biassing means (eg a spring) is provided to bias the two halves into a generally coplanar position. Further means may be provided to prevent the planar members from flexing to move beyond the coplanar position in a direction away from the discharge opening 8.

[0040] The operation of the hinged planar member is similar to the disc 24 except that the displacement trajectory of the doors will be slightly different. 

1. A pellet dispenser comprising a reservoir for storing pellets, an opening through which pellets can be discharged, a channel leading from the reservoir to the opening and a mechanism for controlling the discharge of pellets from the reservoir via the channel and through the opening in discrete batches of at least one pellet, the mechanism comprising a resilient and flexible laminar member, operation means for flexing the laminar member to vary its arcuate profile, arm means mounted at a discrete location on the laminar member and carrying a shutter so positioned as to move into and out of a position in which it can obstruct the passage of pellets from the channel through the opening in response to a change in arcuate profile of the laminar member, and obstruction means mounted at another discrete location on the laminar member so positioned as to move into and out of a position in which it can obstruct the passage of pellets from the reservoir to the channel in response to a change in arcuate profile of the laminar member, the obstruction means not obstructing the passage of pellets when the shutter means obstructs the passage of pellets and vice versa.
 2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the laminar member defines an aperture for admitting pellets from the reservoir to the passage.
 3. A dispenser according to claim 1 or to claim 2, wherein the arm means comprises a pair of half cylindrical portions each having one axial end rigid with the laminar member at respective discrete locations, the distal ends of the cylindrical portions carrying complementary shutter portions defining said shutter, whereby changes in arcuate profile of said laminar member causes the distal ends of said cylindrical portions to move from a first position in which they engage one another and hold the shutter portions in a position in which they close said opening to a second position in which they lie spaced apart and hold said shutter portions in a position in which they substantially clear said opening.
 4. A dispenser according to claim 3, wherein said one end of each said cylindrical portion is rigid with said laminar member only over an arc which subtends an angle of less than 90° C.
 5. A dispenser according to claim 3 or to claim 4, wherein said cylindrical portions defines said channel.
 6. A dispenser according to claim 5 as dependent upon claim 2, wherein the aperture and channel have substantially the same diameter and are coaxially aligned.
 7. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, comprising a generally egg-shaped two part housing having a first part generally defining the reservoir and a second containing the said mechanism.
 8. A dispenser according to claim 7, wherein one edge of the laminar member is located in an internal groove in one side of the second part and has another edge engaged by a push button located in a button opening on the opposite side of the second part.
 9. A dispenser according to claim 8, wherein a portion of the perimeter of the button is hingedly connected to the second part at position adjacent a periphery of the button opening.
 10. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the hinged connection is effected by a living hinge.
 11. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the obstruction means comprise a pair of normally generally parallel spaced elongate members secured at opposite ends of the laminar member and extending an opposite side of the path of pellets from the reservoir to the channel, the positions of the opposite ends of the elongate members on the laminar member being such that when the laminar member experiences a change in arcuate profile, the ends move towards each other to cause the intermediate portions of the two elongate members to bow towards each other into said path to obstruct the passage of pellets there along.
 12. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the obstruction means comprises, at least one projection mounted in said laminar member at a location spaced from said channel and extending towards said channel, abutment means for engaging an intermediate portion on said projection whereby when the laminar member experiences a change in profile, said projection is displaced to engage said abutment means and then by cam action causes the distal end of the projection to extend into said channel and obstruct the further passage of pellets there along.
 13. A pellet dispenser comprising a housing containing a flexible resilient laminar member separating the housing into first and second compartments, the first compartment defining a reservoir for storing pellets there, second compartment having a discharge opening for discharging pellets, the laminar member defining an aperture through which pellets can pass from the first to the second compartments, and being free to flex and change its arcuate profile in response to lateral pressure, a pair of arms mounted on the laminar member on opposite sides of the aperture to extend towards the opening, each arm carrying a door, the doors closing the opening when the laminar member adopts a first arcuate profile and moving away from the opening when the laminar member adopts a second arcuate profile, an obstruction mounted on the laminar member and movable between a first position in which it obstructs the passage of pellets through the aperture from one compartment to the other when the laminar member adopts the second arcuate profile and a second position in which it does not obstruct the passage of pellets from the first to the second compartment through the opening when the laminar member adopts the first arcuate profile.
 14. A dispenser according to claim 13, wherein the housing has a side aperture in a side thereof to expose the laminar member to enable said lateral pressure to be applied thereto.
 15. A dispenser according to claim 14, including a push button hingedly connected to the rim of the side aperture and through which pressure can be applied to said laminar member.
 16. A pellet dispenser comprising a reservoir for storing pellets, an opening through which pellets can be discharged, a channel leading from the reservoir to the opening and a mechanism for controlling the discharge of pellets from the reservoir via the channel and through the opening in discrete batches of at least one pellet, the mechanism comprising a two part laminar member in which the two parts are hingedly interconnected, operation means for acting on the laminar member to vary the angular relationship between the two parts, arm means mounted at a discrete location on the laminar member and carrying a shutter so positioned as to move into and out of a position in which it can obstruct the passage of pellets from the channel through the opening in response to a change angular relationship between the two parts of the laminar member, and obstruction means mounted at another discrete location on the laminar member so positioned as to move into and out of a position in which it can obstruct the passage of pellets from the reservoir to the channel in response to a change in the relationship between the two parts of the laminar member, the obstruction means not obstructing the passage of pellets when the shutter means obstructs the passage of pellets and vice versa.
 17. A dispenser according to claim 1, including means for limiting the range of angular relationships between the two parts. 